Skip to Content

Department of Political Science

Internships

An internship can be a valuable way to apply knowledge learned in the classroom, gain work experience, develop professional skills, and build a professional network. Students in our department intern in a variety of public and private organizations, and you have the opportunity to earn academic credit for internship experiences.

Earn Academic Credit

Internships are worth three or six credit hours, depending on the number of hours you spend at your internship. You must complete a total of 150 work hours (at least 10 hours per week in a regular semester) to earn three credit hours and 300 work hours (at least 20 hours per week in a regular semester) to earn six credit hours. You can complete your internship during the summer months, if you so choose. 

Get Work Experience

Internships give students the opportunity to gain experience in the workplace, in public and private organizations that deal with issues related to politics, government, public policy, public affairs, and international affairs. Some students have completed internships in our nation's capital, while others have stayed local.

 

Internship Opportunity Examples

South Carolina Semester

The Department has partnered with the South Carolina Senate Judiciary Committee to create a Spring semester internship with this committee, and information and applications are sent out via POLINOTE each Fall. 

Other opportunities include:

  • South Carolina Office of the Governor

  • South Carolina Attorney General’s Office

  • South Carolina Department of Commerce

  • South Carolina Law Enforcement Division

  • Richland County Public Defender’s Office

  • South Carolina Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism

  • Office of the Mayor of Columbi

  • State and federal legislators offices

  • Campaign offices

  • South Carolina Republican Party

  • South Carolina Democratic Party

Washington Semester

Students have completed internships in the federal government in Washington, DC. USAJobs is the federal government’s official system for federal jobs and employment information, and it contains information about internships in the federal government.

Students have interned at non-governmental organizations in Columbia and various other locations.

Examples include:

  • The League of Women Voters
  • Project Vote Smart
  • The Columbia World Affairs Council
  • Various think tanks in Washington, DC.

 

Challenge the conventional. Create the exceptional. No Limits.

©